PAUL STANLEY Says New KISS Music Would Have 'Classic' Vibe With Lyrics About 'Freedom, Self-Empowerment' And 'Enjoying Life'

On November 18, during an encounter with a TMZ photographer in Beverly Hills, California, Paul Stanley, the guitarist and vocalist of the iconic rock band KISS, hinted at the possibility of new music from the group. Stanley said it's possible that KISS might release new material, emphasizing that life is full of surprises. When asked about the potential style of this new music, he described it as likely to have a "classic" vibe, but with a beat that makes you want to dance, while still rooted firmly in rock. Regarding the themes that would inspire the lyrics, Stanley mentioned concepts like freedom, self-empowerment, and enjoying life. He noted that those ideas remain timeless, regardless of age, and embody the spirit of rock and roll. This came shortly after a Q&A session on November 16 at the "KISS Kruise: Landlocked In Vegas" event, where Stanley indicated there might actually be some music in the works. He explained that he only writes when there’s a real project to work on, and lately, he’s been writing, which suggested progress toward new material. KISS hasn’t released a full-length album since 2012’s "Monster," which debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 but sold only 56,000 copies in its first week in the U.S. Their previous album, 2009’s "Sonic Boom," opened even stronger, hitting No. 2 with 108,000 units sold and becoming their highest-charting record ever. Despite these facts, Stanley has earlier expressed skepticism about the need for new KISS music. Back in 2021, during the Kiss Kruise, he questioned the value of new albums from classic bands, pointing out that fans mostly prefer the old hits and rarely embrace newer songs as much. Stanley elaborated on this idea, saying that classic songs act like "snapshots from your past" that fans are deeply connected to, whereas new material doesn't evoke the same response. He admitted that while he thought recent songs like "Modern Day Delilah" and "Hell Or Hallelujah" were as good as anything they’d done, new songs just haven’t aged into classics yet. His 2021 comments to USA Today underscored this sentiment, noting that audiences tend to sit down when new songs are played live because they lack the emotional weight of classic hits. The band’s bassist and vocalist Gene Simmons has shared similar feelings about releasing new music, particularly regarding how the music industry has shifted. Simmons criticized the prevalence of music piracy and digital sharing, feeling it undermines the hard work artists put into their recordings. He suggested that unless there are major changes in how music consumption works, he’s not incentivized to push out new KISS albums. After wrapping up their extensive "End Of The Road" farewell tour with two shows at Madison Square Garden in New York City, KISS returned to perform at the "KISS Kruise: Landlocked In Vegas" event. The November 14 show featured an hourlong acoustic set, followed the next night by an 85-minute electric concert without their iconic makeup — their first unmasked land performance in three decades. They were also joined by former guitarist Bruce Kulick for a couple of classic songs, much to the delight of fans. Overall, while Stanley’s recent comments show openness to new KISS music that preserves their trademark rock vibe and lyrical themes, both he and Simmons remain cautious about the commercial viability and audience reception of fresh material. The band appears to be balancing nostalgia and legacy with the realities of today’s music landscape.